|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 12:45 pm
((A private RP between my Masque and Delrialto.))
&
(( Teepee This Way))
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 1:56 pm
With a gentle nose to her sister's cheek and a farewell cuddle from her father, Masque bid her family a gentle farewell. It was nice to visit with them for the morning, for she dearly missed their songs and stories when they were away on their flights about the land. Fondly she watched them take off with graceful flares of dark wings, waiting until their silhouettes were far and away before she turned away. They would be back soon enough, and likely full of tales and new songs.
But that didn't mean she couldn't have her own adventures while she waited for them to return.
Pacing along in the warm sunshine, Masque considered the wildflowers around her and relished in the light breeze. Once again left to her own devices, the wine-colored mare wandered without direction, letting her hooves carry her where they wished. While it had gotten her in trouble once (wildfires were certainly a thing to be avoided) usually it turned out well. Still, it didn't stop her from wishing for wings of her own from time to time. As a filly she had longed for them often, so that she may accompany her father and elder sister as they dance the winds in their endless search for tunes and tales. Seeing them dive, dip and soar made her heart climb, longing to be up there as well. Though, now that she was grown it had been the turning of many moons since she had last gone dreaming of such impossibility.
Now she was content, happy in herself as she stood. She was unlikely to grow wings at this age, and that was alright. When they went on flights, she maintained her company with her sister Chaci. The two of them being earth-bound meant they could race and dance their way across the land the others merely flew above.
And so Masque practiced dance each and every day, working to capture the grace her family displayed in the air and flaunt it on the ground. Slowly she and Chaci had gathered many other friends besides, unicorns and ground-walkers in all colors and patterns. And though they had also gained friends in the form of Sitara and Delphina, Masque's wish for wings had not returned. She was happy with her life on the ground, the friends she had gathered.
She wanted adventure now, more than anything... Or perhaps, more than anything but love.
"Stop daydreaming." Masque scolded herself quietly, shaking off her wandering thoughts. "You're likely to walk right into a Kalona's jaws with your head in the clouds, you know..."
That would be somewhere between sad and silly, if she was honest with herself. Resolving to pay more attention to her surroundings so Chaci couldn't get hysterical or overprotective with her the next time they spoke, Masque paused and considered her surroundings.
And realized that she had somehow wandered out of her usual territory and into a place she'd never been before... A shadowed bit of forest leading into the mountains.
'Well, now you've done it.'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 4:41 pm
Delrialto had long ago made a habit of wandering far and wide. Restless hooves and a wandering heart were traits he came by honestly, a legacy of his sire's sire's sire. The trait rang strong and true through the generations, and may even have been something they could attribute to the previous generation but for the fact they had never met him. At any rate, his son's journey had far-outstripped his own, and it was Sibalto's travels against which all were measured now. Sibalto, who had been born across the great Bitter Water, and traveled the sea to come to rest here in a great wooden vessel called a ship.
Delrialto had not seen the ship, but he'd made many travels along the river and out to the sea... He had danced on the beach his grandfather described arriving on, had looked out to the ocean and searched the tide for the horses of the water Sibalto had told him of as a colt. He hadn't been lucky enough to find or meet one yet, but he'd caught the sight of a distant head upon the waves... See the flash and flip of a scaled tail or bright fins. He knew they were out there, and one day he would meet one.
He'd meet every type of Soquili he could. Even the dangerous ones, just to say that he'd done it. He ran as far as Imrikalto had ever wandered, he fought as bravely as Ashrialto... But flying, flying was Delrialto's realm as it had never been any of theirs. Delri flew as far and as high as his lungs and wings could stand it, and every day he fought to out-do himself. He dove deeply and banked sharply, he could flutter and glide and soar. He was the first SilverShadow to ride the wind's back, and he did it with wild, untamed joy.
Coming to rest in the glade after a wild morning of flight, Delri let his wings splay along the grass and reveled in the stretch and relaxation of flight muscles. Trailing the feathered appendages as he paced to the stream's edge, the wind stallion waited for his lungs to settle and then bowed his death to drink deeply from the cool water.
As he drank he was dimly aware of approaching hooves, a light, graceful stride that almost sounded like dancing. He listened with a tilted ear, noting with faint amusement that the mare was drawing closer. 'A fine flight and a chance to make a new friend? How lucky!'
"You're likely to walk right into a Kalona's jaws with your head in the clouds, you know..."
The mare was murmuring to herself as she wandered into the glade. Delrialto was amused to note that she had not yet seen him, perhaps too busy scolding herself.
"And wouldn't that be a shame, to lose such a lovely lady to a Kalona's hunger?" Delrialto pointed out with a playful lift of his head. "Good day."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 5:03 pm
The trees were older and taller here, stooped with age and resonating a kind of ancient quiet. There were oaks with bark gnarled and scarred by the charge and assault of hooves and claws of beasts... There she imaged a Kalona's strike, there the scratch of a great forest cat or the clumsy strength of a bear. The marks were scattered here and there, at all heights, as though some of the scars were from generations past and the trees continued to grow as the beasts in their shade fell to age or enemy.
'Scary.' She noted with trepidation, shivering in an imagined chill emanating from the mountains. She'd not wandered there, though her winged relatives were fond of the high peaks and the frozen passes. They brought with them stories of predators that could walk as Soquili or a hunting beast, Skinwalkers. There were plenty of tales of Kalona too, beasts grown large with power and muscle and near immune to the biting cold that could kill her kind. 'And you just about walked into the peaks themselves, mooning about all sorts of nonsense. What would Papa think? He'd never let you out of his sight again, grown or not!'
Of course, there again was a potentially fatal mistake. Masque was far too busy scolding herself about her head being in the clouds to actually pay attention as she was telling herself to do. That much was immediately evident when she wandered straight into a glade already occupied by a stallion, who gently pointed out her loss would be a tragedy. She startled at the smooth tone and blinked wide golden eyes at him, both amused and embarrassed at his kind expression.
He was a wind stallion, young enough, seemingly unscarred. So then, he hadn't had the misfortune to cross a Kalona or Skinwalker here, that much was reassuring. Right? Even if one was a kept pet, they didn't let a pet wander far... So it was doubtful he was that either. He didn't seem injured or scared, amused by her antics but not threatening. So probably not in league with something that would enjoy harming or eating her... Probably not a danger.
Which meant her standing there and staring at him like an idiot was rude and foolish.
"I... Thank you." She stuttered with a soft laugh. "And I apologize for intruding. As you can see, I am not exactly paying attention to where my hooves carry me. This is far outside my usual realm of wandering, I am so terribly sorry if I have intruded upon your territory."
She ducked her head, calling herself thrice a fool, and then shook it off with a pleasant smile. "I am Masque, and I am afraid you have me at a bit of a disadvantage... Could I trouble you for directions back to the river? My clan lives along there."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:33 pm
It was probably a little wicked to let her walk right into a potentially dangerous area and make a flirtatious joke. If grandsire was about, he'd probably gotten a n** or a kick for it. Shame on him, spooking a lady like that. The way she startled was a smooth drift of confusion, her golden eyes snapping wide for a moment. He almost didn't notice her alarm, so gently swerving was her movement. She'd been far too distracted in examining the surroundings, the scars from wild animals and kalona and skinwalker.... She had a right to be afraid, and he had flirted.
The silken words slipped right off of his tongue without his even thinking of it... A peculiar little trait that ran strong in his family line (like the wandering) but only cropped up in him when it would be the most embarrassing. He immediately hoped the words didn't offend her, since flirting with a complete stranger was dangerous business. What if there was a stallion waiting in the wings to trample him to dust? Or an even more furious mare angered at his cheek?
The immediate urge to stutter and drop his head in shyness swelled in his chest like a rising river, a flood of panic suffusing his limbs. "Sorry, I spoke without thinking... I did not mean to disturb you."
They seemed to apologize at the same time, which made him want to laugh even as he shook his head. He gave a 'see I'm harmless' sort of grin. "No apology needed, lovely wanderer. At least not from thee. In truth this is not my territory, and I think it is unclaimed. If not, we are equally guilty of tresspass. Regardless, I really didn't mean to startle you, I'm afraid I spoke without thinking."
He glanced around the glade. "Still... This is not the safest of places to be a wandering, I am glad it is I who crosses paths with you. Some of the inhabitants of this place are less than gentle, and it would be sad indeed to hear of harm befalling you."
The mention of her being outside of her regular lands of wandering made him wonder if she'd been sent or compelled to this place at someone else's will. Maybe she was visiting a friend or a lover? Not that it was any of his business.
'It is none of your business, Delrialto. So pay attention to the lady and not your own idiotic musings.'
"Well met, lovely Masque. I am Delrialto, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Though this area is not mine, I am certainly happy to guide you back toward the river. I am sure your Clan would worry, and as a gentleman I cannot in good conscience point the way and leave you to your own devices. I hope you would not mind the company?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 12:58 pm
Masque was once again sincerely glad of her dark coat, as her cheeks immediately flushed in shame. That was foolish, silly and entirely unbecoming. Fillies did this sort of nonsense, or colts, wandering head-first into danger with no thought to how they could be snapped up in an instant. Even grown she was slight and graceful, and probably no match at all for a hungry Skinwalker. She might be able to evade a Kalona, but even that would depend on a great deal of luck, misfortune to her enemy, and no small amount of cunning. And being cunning was what Kalonas did, she had no wish to test the theory.
So thank every star that had ever shown, her new companion was a flirtatious wind stallion (accidentally flirtatious or not) and not something that wished to devour her. Not a great bear or a hunting cat or even a wolf or three. Fortune was smiling, on her and her Clan, even if she did seemed to have failed to learn her lesson after the forest fire incident.
'Will I never learn? I suppose I am like Papa after all.' She mused before giving him a gentle smile. "No trouble, no trouble at all. It was the kindest 'nudge' out of my own silly thoughts I've had. I appreciate your kindness."
If they could stop talking at the exact same moment, they might actually have a pleasant little conversation. His shy smile made her laugh, shaking her head and sending her mulberry-shadow hair flaring about her. "I should like to think we did not disturb each other, and we are therefore perfectly even, if you'll go along with it?"
She couldn't help but give him a hopeful look, since it seemed to wrap the whole thing up nicely if he'd just agree. Then they could both stop fluttering and flushing and apologizing. Apparently females were much more efficiently minded than stallions about such things. But if they could manage it, he could point her in the right direction and she could go back to scolding herself.
"I too am glad that it was you I encountered, and not something dangerous." She offered with a smile and once again found herself fighting a flush of embarrassment. "You're very kind to say such things, but I appreciate the possibility of company rather than danger, I must agree."
She gave a soft, bell-like laugh to soften the joke. His introduction made her ears swivel, of course he was an Alto son... It suddenly made much more sense.
"The SilverClan is known to me and mine, I've met some of them on occasion." She nodded. "I'm of the Phantoms, I believe our wandering lands overlap. I am most charmed to meet you, Delrialto, and appreciate your offer of guidance and company. It would be a pleasant way to pass the walk, thank you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 12:14 pm
Just so she wouldn't take matters too deeply to heart, Delrialto gave the mare a playful smile. Even as she shyly ducked her head. She was a little embarrassed, perhaps by his words and perhaps by the fact that she had indeed wandered into danger. Still, she seemed to bear it well, for she shook it off the next moment and lifted her head to smile at him.
"I didn't mean to interrupt your thoughts, and of course once the words were said I realize how poorly thought out they were." He murmured with a bob of his head. "I do apologize if I caused you any alarm."
She had a lovely laugh, and when she shook her head it sent her mane to cascading around her. That too was a fetching sight. "I gladly accept your point, that way we are both of us guilty and neither. 'Even' sounds more than fair to me."
He smiled at the hope glittering in her golden eyes. There was something else there too, something like laughter. She seemed to think him foolish, but he just thought her lovely. Still, on the whole they were silly and amusing, and it made him grin widely.
"Since beauty can be dangerous, I am still not sure if I am safe. Still, you at least have naught to fear from me... And company is most welcome, as you have saved me from the truly horrible fate of boredom. I shall entrust myself unto your care and hope that you do not lead me into danger."
They strode along for a moment, him smiling as he realized that her kin and his had a long history of friendship. "Well that explains why your markings are familiar, and it certainly makes me feel safer on the whole. It is lovely then to meet you, Phantom's daughter, and I look forward to our walk and a chance to talk awhile. Pray tell, what is the news of your family? And have you been wandering from them long? If so, what adventures have you found? And if you have not, but spent time at their sides, know I wish them naught but well, though true news would be welcome."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 12:34 pm
He was flirtatious and playful, but there was no malice or trickery to it. It was almost as though he couldn't quite help making playful observations that bordered on flirting no matter what his intent was. Since he smiled back, she inclined her head in a nod, acknowledging his apology. She was glad he was not a Skinwalker or a Kalona come to harm her, though it did put into mind the thought of another Kalona...
'Perhaps I shall seek him out later, and tell him of this...'
"Not so much alarm as surprise, and again I have to argue that your words are kinder than any sort of alarm I deserved. But since you have agreed we are both and neither of us guilty, there is no more to be said of it." She said it with some measure of satisfaction, giving a stout nod.
That was settled, on to other things. Like the chance to react with mock indignance when he suggested she could be dangerous. Unwilling to pass up the opportunity, Masque gave a loud gasp and playfully flicked him with her tail.
"I, be dangerous? Well, I think I would be insulted if you had not masked it as a compliment. Do I argue I am not beautiful enough to be dangerous? It sounds like a trap. I shall instead merely say I am not more dangerous than any other mare is to a stallion. And therefore, if you say foolish things, you do so at your own peril. As for leading, I am merely heading to my more familiar lands and you are accompanying me, no leading to danger today."
With the knowledge that their families were long-standing allies, Masque felt her tension drain away. Now she could merely focus on the pleasure of his company and share news of their families. Her father would be glad to hear she had crossed paths with a Silver Stallion, certainly more happy than he was when he found out she was spending time with a Kalona.
'Those are Papa's troubles, and not your own. Focus on the matter at hand.'
"I have recently visited with my sister, though our father wanders widely at this time. With his wings, he is prone to such habits, and we are not particularly worried over his safety. Likely, he has gone in search of old friends and to visit his favorite views... And soon enough he'll return and visit to share his stories and songs." She smiled fondly at the thought of what news her sire would bring upon his return. There truly was no telling.
"Until then, my elder sister Kaishara and I visit regularly. She is settled with a Lifemate now, a handsome stallion who loves her fiercely. I am glad, she seems far more joyous."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 1:27 pm
'Adorable and used to being right.' Delri thought to himself as she nodded. There was a stubborn satisfaction in the gesture that told him so, but mostly it made him want to laugh.
Instead, he nodded in agreement, and just like that matters were settled. With matters behind them, both of them gave agreeable smiles before they continued down the path. Delri tilted his head to admire some of the flowering vines twining overhead, the oak trees towering to either side.
At her teasing remarks he couldn't help but joke back, falling into the pattern of friendly banter easily.
"How should I know?" He asked archly, but smiled to let her know it was all in fun. "My father once joked that all mares are dangerous, and as I grew up I came to think it is one of the truest things he ever told me. And you are beautiful, and we are all dangerous in our own way. So I will be happy to escort you to the lands you call home, and hope it does not prove too perilous."
He listened to the news of her family, having a vague memory of his father and grandfather telling him stories of the flying Phantom. His father may also have mentioned a lady phantom, winged and wild, very likely that was Masque's older sister.
"I have heard the Phantom wanders widely." Delri agreed. "My father mentioned it when he used to berate me for my long flights, in fact. I am glad to hear he is wandering, there is a chance he will stop in to see my family in that instance. I think they would all be thrilled to hear from him."
Perhaps he would put the idea in his father's head the next time he visited home... Ash would be pleased to have a chance to go wandering, and it would do him and the others well to go a wandering and visit with old friends.
"I am glad too to hear that your sister is well and settled. My own wanders almost as voraciously as I, so neither of us have settled. We are soemthing of an anomaly in the family, I suppose... Though the wandering at least runs true indeed. I am sure the same could be said for stories and songs in your family."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 6:46 pm
She liked the sound of his laugh, though she was curious as to the cause of it at the moment. Still, his wordless agreement made her smile faintly in return, content to let it lie for now. Instead she turned to follow his gaze, noting how he admired the flowering vines and the great trees.
"They are lovely, are they not?" She murmured, inclining her head toward the vines. "I love all the varieties of wild flowers here... My sisters and I used to compete to see who could find the most different varieties and bring them home to seed the meadows we favored playing in."
It had been a long time since she'd gone gathering flowers... Perhaps she would do that again soon, if the weather was clear...
"Your father sounds like he might be quite wise... Though he would be wiser still not to say such a thing where mares could hear him." She retorted with a wicked gleam in her golden eyes. "You should learn that, if you wish to emulate him! As for escorting me becoming perilous, you have already said some very foolish things and still appear well. I should think that your luck will hold for the remainder of the walk."
It was not surprising that he had heard tales of her father, Aureate's wanderings were indeed wide. "It is my hope he does indeed visit his friends. He tends to bring back the most glorious stories when he does, and usually writes a song or two as well. My sisters and I eagerly await such tales, even though we are grown."
At the last, Masque laughed softly. "Yes, you would be correct indeed regarding your assumption. Songs run true and free in my line, and there are some stories indeed that we do share. Though there are lines that come to mind who have songs just as strong as our own, and stories twice as grand. I had the fortune of meeting one such, recently. He was, not as I expected, and I find myself glad of that."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 3:05 pm
As they walked, Delri noted they were nearing where he would normally turn off to trace the paths that ran to the many dwelling places of his friends. It was a common enough route, which gave him hope that one day he might again cross paths with her. Then again, she was a child of the Phantoms, and they were never hard to find if you knew what to look for. Perhaps he would call on them again soon, if she didn't mind.
"Lovely indeed." He agreed, though he was not shy about his admiration of her and looked at her when he agreed. "That sounds like a fine enough game, and with a beautiful goal at the end of it... Or at least a lovely result. I think the world could always use more wild flowers."
He imagined it for a moment, then moved on to the next topic. "My father is wise indeed, and a most clever thing besides. He has certainly not said such things where mares might hear him, as far as I have witnessed. As for myself and learning, I suppose since it has been said in front of you that is evidence enough that I have not learned? Then again, perhaps I am merely being honest and telling you I am clever enough to be worried? I wouldn't think a mare would be upset by that idea."
He laughed at the arch tone, shaking his head. "I would like to think my luck will hold. As for the rest of, I should very much like to hear the tales that will be spun for your father's wanderings, particularly if he should cross paths with mine."
Delrialto's ears swiveled forward at the mention of other Soquili with music in their hearts and songs in their blood. True enough he too had crossed paths with them once or twice, or at least some of the younger, darker ones... But perhaps she had had the fortune to meet some of the others? It sounded like a good story.
"Have you now? Am I right to guess there is a story in that? If so, I would like to hear it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
